World Rugby, the sport’s international governing body, on Wednesday changed residency qualification rules in order to discourage players from switching nationalities.

A player will now need to wait five years.

However, Habana says that won’t stop the bleeding.

“I think a lot of people outside South Africa don’t understand that there are a number of unique things happening in South Africa at the moment,” he was quoted as saying by AAP.

“Not only from a rugby point of view, but from a political, economic and safety point of view. A lot people think rugby players go overseas to gain money, to gain a residency in another country. But there are so many different factors which people take into consideration.”

The Bok winger, who has scored a record 65 Test tries, is the second South African player to cite crime as a major factor in the exodus.

“A lot of youngsters might move given the transformation charter which has been put down from a political point of view,” said Habana.

“It’s such an intricate thing that if you don’t come from South Africa then you’ll never understand it. When these youngsters move, it’s not just about leaving South African shores, it’s about taking your future into consideration.”